Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Sports community still processing Kobe’s death; A’s Fan Fest brought out a lot of baseball people; plus more

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sfgate.com file photo: The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) gets a hug from the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant on March 6, 2016 at Staples Center in Los Angeles

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Breaking: The Houston Astros have signed Dusty Baker as manager

#2 The shock of learning of the sudden death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter and seven other passengers was surreal for many people to process

#3 The Oakland A’s held Fan Fest on Saturday, you had a chance to work with your broadcast partner Mauricio Segura and Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas at Jack London Square.

#4 Spring Training is just around the corner. How much will the sign stealing scandal dominate coverage in this upcoming pre season?

#5 For the Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun announced that this will be his last season. This is also the last year of his five year contract with the Brewers. Will his PED use in 2013 have an impact in his Hall of Fame candidacy?

#6 Kobe was called a renaissance man spoke three different languages, was involved in many different businesses and community efforts if you had to think of anyone else who was close to a Kobe Bryant persona would you say Stephen Curry of Golden State was a little like that?

Join Amaury for all the Oakland A’s home radio broadcasts in Spanish at KIQI 1010 and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

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2020 Topps baseball card of Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas

Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND– In a overcast day/afternoon, but without rain,as thousands of fans visited and mingled with A’s players during the 2020 A’s Fanfest at Jack London Square young Danay García, Special Events Assistant for the A’s brought to our kiosk at The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, A’s starting pitcher Frankie Montas.

Frankie ended his 2019 season with a 9-2 record with a 2.63 earned run average in 16 games he started. Smiling and followed by a bunch of fans with ball and pen in hand they were lining-up to get this autograph, he sat next to me as he signed for roughly 20 to 30 minutes, once in a while standing up to pose with fans in selfies as well as group/family shots.

Montas dropped by with his wife Nicolette and son Michael. The young Dominican hurler seems very happy posing with fans signing one autograph after another. I conducted the interview in Spanish and here it is translated. Montas pitched this winter for the Leones del Escogido or Escogido Lions) in the Dominican Republic professional baseball league.

He said he pitched a little bit more this season. That makes sense because he only started basically half of the 2019 for the Athletics. I didn’t wanted to dwell on why he was suspended that was not the main goal, specially at this time in history when baseball is under heavy scrutiny because of the sign-stealing scandal. This is not the place anyway, this was a Fanfest, where positivism was in the air. The last thing I wanted to ask him was about his suspension and I did not.

Montas is about 6 feet 2 inches tall,at 240 pounds with a strong powerful right arm.

Q: Welcome to Oakland. Ready for Spring Training?

A: “Yes, I am happy to be here, and ready to go to Arizona”

Q:You live in Arizona, so basically you are going back home.

A: Absolutely,should be fun…and I am really looking forward this season.

Q. Do you consider yourself a fastball pitcher (you throw around 97 mph).?

A: Yes, I do, that is my best pitch, but I can also come at a hitter with other pitches, but yes, I think you can consider me a “power pitcher”.

ThIs will be his sixth season in the major leagues and fourth with the A’s,the Dominican pitcher will be 27 years of age next month. During his abbreviated 2019 season,he recorded 103 strike-outs in 96 innings of labor and was on a pace to win 18 to 20 and throw over 200 strike outs.

Q: Many people (including me) like to know, which player is the toughest for you to get out.

A: Joe Mauer of Minnesota, I cannot get him out. Mauer has played 15 years with the Twins and is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles. The veteran has been a tough out for many pitchers, last week in a ceremony at Target Field,the Twins retired his famous number 7..

Q: Now that you have been in the majors for a few years, what is the one thing that has impressed you the most?

A: The discipline here, everything is done professionally,we have a schedule for everything, the speed of the game is another thing..

Q: Oakland Coliseum is the most spacious MLB park, with all kinds of foul territory,that benefits pitchers. Aside from here in Oakland,which parks are the favorites for you to pitch, favorites for you, not necessarily because you can get more outs,but because you like those places.

A: Kansas City…Anaheim and Houston, I would say those three.

Q:Luis Rojas was just named the new manager of the New York Mets, a fellow Dominican one of the sons of Felipe Alou, your opinion?

A; Great, I know him, he is a great guy, happy for that.

Photos and selfies all over the place with the very affable Frankie Montas,as his wife and son patiently waited on the sidelines, he was just getting to the end of his signing duties at our kiosk. We also took some pictures, he signed a few Topps baseball Cards for The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, which someday (hopeful sooner than later) we’ll have a place inside the proposed new A’s Ballpark at Howard Terminal.

My last question.

Q:When you were a little boy like this kid that was taking a picture with you here. Who was your idol?

A; :”Pedro Martínez” Not surprisingly from a young pitcher to name the great Dominican Hall of Famer Martínez

The Oakland Athletics pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to their Spring Training home February 12.

We shook hands,as I told him,next time we talk will be at Mesa, during Spring Training. which he said Okay!

Good Luck Frankie!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Congress will be asking detailed questions as to how signs got stolen

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wkyt.com photo: The Houston Astros Jose Altuve waits his turn at bat could be called as a witness to whether he was wearing a wire or electronic device that help him indicate which pitch was coming next during the 2017 season.

Amaury does the News and Commentary podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1 There is little doubt that Congress will call witnesses and former players and current players and coaches into the sign stealing scandal to come to testify

#2 Amongst the center of the probe will be former Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch and former general manager Jeff Luhnow and current Astro Jose Altuve

#3 In the congressional inquiry congressmen will be expected to turn this scandal upside down while they get to the bottom of what exactly happened?

#4 Also in the probe look for former New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran and former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora to be asked what role they played while with Houston Astros

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers said he had just about enough when he reported that signs were being stolen with high technology when he played with the Astros and guilt more than anything played a role into his coming forward.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary Sign-Stealing Scandal: Baseball Needs a Hero

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clickondetroit.com photo: Ex Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch (left) and ex general manager John Luhnow (right) most likely will be the focus of a federal investigation into the MLB sign stealing scandal and called to congress. Illinois Rep (D) Bobby Rush is coordinating the investigation to get a vote to set up the investigation and begin calling witnesses

Sign-Stealing Scandal: Baseball Needs a Hero

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

While Commissioner Rob Manfred is playing Dick Tracy, the Players Union hires Perry Mason, baseball needs Captain America to come to the rescue. A book much older than the oldest baseball book around -The Bible, says: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” the Golden Rule that can be applied to everything in life, including baseball. In case anybody forgot, we still swear by the Bible in court cases.

The timing for this scandal could not be worse (not to say is good at any time) we are closing-in to Spring Training, the list of Hall of Fame players eligible for Cooperstown this year. Teams getting ready for their Fan Fest, parading their players and getting fans into the mindset of another baseball season. And then this stink bomb.

A sport that is already going through changes and many challenges does not need this scandal and we can only hope that some good would come out of this, for all involved and for the sake and love of the game. MLB should be strong and punish those, not only to teach a lesson to the culprits, but in the end for the very best of baseball and generations to come.

Who is the hero here? Are there any? There were four former members of the Houston Astros who first confirmed the team was using electronic sign-stealing. Of those four, one came out publicly, it was pitcher Mike Fiers who originally said in an article to Ken Rosenthal about this sign-stealing method: “That’s not playing the game the right way”. I do not know if he is the hero, but what he said is right. For some people whistle-blowers are heroes, for others they are villains.

No matter how you dressed it up, or justify it, cheating is cheating, doesn’t matter if it is 1919 or 2020. But there is really no justification. Baseball is a strategy type of game. Since Little League we teach the kids the only thing you can steal in baseball is a base. Rickey Henderson stole 1,406 bases,more than anybody and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

This week will bring more news about the current scandal as this continues to unfold.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is following the base stealing scandal in MLB and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sign-Stealing Scandal–Politician calling for Congressional Oversight Hearing

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congress.gov photo: Illinois Rep Bobby Rush is calling for an official congressional investigation into the sign stealing scandal involving MLB general managers, managers, players and front office staffs
Sign-Stealing Scandal:  Politician calling for Congressional Oversight Hearing
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
Representative Bobby Rush from the State of Illinois wants an official Congressional Oversight hearing on the current scandal. He had said so in a letter to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which is in charge (among other things) of oversight of major league sports. So now the government might get involved as major league baseball is going to an unprecedented crisis.
Last time Washington D.C. got involved in a baseball scandal was 2005. The Mitchell Report – (steroids era) some players had to testify in public open hearings among those were Mark McGwire,Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro. During that scandal Barry Bonds and Bret Boone were Implicated, while others like José Canseco and Ken Caminiti admitted their use of steroids.
As the Office of the Commissioner of baseball continues this wide investigation others aside from Representative Bobby Rush are also voicing their opinions. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote in a resolution urging MLB to recall the World Series trophies awarded to the Astros in 2017 and Red Sox in 2018 and award them to the Dodgers instead.  Pitcher CC.Sabathia, who announced his retirement last season,said that the Yankees got cheated by the Astros and Manfred should take their away their title.
Looks like Dusty Baker is getting interviewed this Monday by the Houston Astros for their open managerial position. Good luck to a good genuine baseball man.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum will be participating again at the Oakland Athletics Fanfest this next Saturday the 25th from 9:30AM to 3:00PM at Jack London Square. Admittance if Free. All are welcome to visit our new bilingual website https://www.hhbmhof.com/
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice of the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Sign Stealing Scandal Altuve–Fallout “I never worn an electronic device”

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usatoday.com photo: Jose Altuve Houston Astros has been accused of wearing a wire to help in sign stealing

Sign Stealing Scandal: Fallout “I Never worn an Electronic device” -José Altuve”.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

My father in Cuba used to tell me: “A veces pagan justos por pecadores” -translation: “One does the harm and another bears the blame”.

It doesn’t matter how many people were cheating in this sign-stealing scandal, the game’s integrity, credibility is in question in this very serious ethical crisis, even if it were only a handful of people. All because the misuse of technology, replay monitors near the dugout, managers, coaches, players maybe wired. All involved in cheating the game of baseball. When this happens the whole sport suffers.

I like to believe not all 750 players, plus managers and coaches, general managers and others on the 30 major league teams where on this Sign-Stealing journey, and we can only go on what the MLB investigation will reveal. All 30 teams open their Spring Training in less than thirty days. I can only image what the scene will be on the first day for the Astros at their West Palm Beach, Florida facility. The media, not only sports media, but in general the major news media.

Within moments of learning that the Manager and General Manager of the Houston Astros were let go,Terry Francona, veteran Manager of the Cleveland Indians was on MLB Network: “We did not do that in Cleveland”.

Today José Altuve the heart of the Astros, three-time AL batting champion, denied wearing an electronic device under his uniform, according to his agent Scott Boras. This was in response to social-media speculation that Altuve did not want his jersey ripped off by his teammates after his walk-off home run against Aroldis Chapman of the Yankees in Game 6 of the 2019 American League Championship Series, because he was wearing an electronic device on his chest to provide signals on which type of pitch was coming.

Many have said baseball must take harder measures of punishment. Like for example taking the 2017 crown from the Houston Astros who defeated the LA Dodgers in seven games during the World Series and giving the title to the Dodgers.

Although MLB has not released in full their investigation (still ongoing) I doubt they want to re-make history. This investigation continues as they continue interviewing managers, general managers, scouts, even the names of such baseball royalty as two-time World Series champion and Hall of Fame member Tony LaRussa have been mentioned in the whole mess.

The next chapter will be coming soon. But this story is not close to its end, yet.

I leave you with this moment in baseball history:
During the 1919 Black Sox scandal a gambler by the name of Arnold Rothstein fixed that World Series. A huge scandal for the game. A young boy pleaded to “Shoeless”Joe Jackson as he left the Grand Jury room, “Say it ain’t so,Joe, say it ain’t so” Jackson replied, “yes kid,I’m afraid it is so.”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish color talent for San Jose Sharks hockey and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sign Stealing Scandal–Carlos Beltrán steps down as Mets manager

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nytimes.com file photo: Carlos Beltran being introduced as the New York Mets manager will not manage one ball game for the Mets as he stepped down today as Mets manager over the Sign Stealing scandal

Sign-Stealing Scandal: Carlos Beltrán Steps Out as Mets Manager

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball continues reeling from the current sign-stealing scandal. Truly unprecedented. Seriously jeopardizing his possible induction into the Hall of Fame after a brilliant 20 years major league career, Carlos Beltrás who was named manager of the New York Mets on November 1,2019, will not manage with the Mets this season.

Beltrán is 42 years old born in Manatí,Puerto Rico. After what has been happening, especially with the Houston Astros,Carlos Beltrán today decided to step down as manager of the New York Mets. This is makes the Mets management who picked Beltrán look very bad,overall nobody is looking good at this time in the game. Beltrán will not manage a single game in Spring Training which is just over two weeks away.

Beltrán played for 20 seasons in major league baseball compiling Hall of Fame worthy numbers, 2,586 games, hit .270 with 435 home runs and 1,587 runs batted in. Began his career in 1998 and ended in 2018, he played for: Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees,Texas Rangers and Houston Astros (again) during the 2017 season when the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Jessica Mendoza,ESPN Baseball Analyst and who also works for the NY Mets blasted Mike Fiers,now pitching with the A’s, and ex-Astros for blowing the whistle on this current scandal.

Personally, I cannot blame a pitcher for blowing the whistle on hitters stealing signs. This goes to the essence of the game of baseball, where the pitchers objective is to get the hitter out. Hitters today have the definite advantage,with all the videos and stuff on film and social media,now.

There will always be the gamesmanship in some situations like when a runner at second base can relay a signal to the hitter, and that will always belong in the game, but methodically establishing a system to steal signs should never be allowed.

Follow us with this very fluid story, in my lifetime (including the steroids era) this is the worst scandal.

See you in Arizona, in Spring Training. But I am afraid this story is still in the top of the 7th.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish play by play talent at the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI La Grande and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bang the drum slowly; Terrible 2020 for Puerto Rico; Alex Cora is Out as Red Sox Manager

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abchouston13.com file photo: Former Boston Red Sox manager Joey Corey was fired on Tuesday by the Boston Red Sox after it was disclosed that he over saw the technology of sign stealing via TV monitors and plastic cans as drums when as bench coach of the Houston Astros and manager of the Red Sox

Terrible 2020 for Puerto Rico: Alex Cora is Out as Red Sox Manager

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Days after Puerto Rico was shaken by powerful earthquakes, another thing has shaken the island. A day after the Houston Astros fired their Manager and General Manager, the Boston Red Sox part ways with their manager Alex Cora. This decision directly related to the investigation of the Astros sign-stealing allegations in the 2017 season. Cora was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017 and was found to have been involved in the operations from the replay room to transmit the signs in game situations.

Commissioner Rob Manfred statement on Alex Cora: “Cora was involved in developing both the banging scheme and utilizing the replay review room to decode and transmit signs,” Manfred wrote in his findings. “Cora participated in both schemes, and through his active participation, implicitly condoned the players’ conduct. I will withhold determining the appropriate level of discipline for Cora until after the [Department of Investigations] completes its investigation of the allegations that the Red Sox engaged in impermissible electronic sign stealing in 2018 while Cora was the manager.”

Alex Cora won the World Series as manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2018, becoming the first manager born in Puerto Rico to do so. Carlos Beltrán named new manager for the New York Mets last year, after season’s end, is also under investigation as he also was part of decision making for the the Houston team.

This has been a terrible beginning of this 2020 year for the island of Puerto Rico. The recent earthquakes that continue to devastate the island and now what just happened with Cora and also potentially Carlos Beltrán also born in Puerto Rico. The difference is that Beltrán has not managed his first game yet this upcoming season.

We probably have not heard the last on the sign-stealing scandal. And there should be more to come.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez has been covering the MLB sign stealing scandal and is the Oakland A’s radio Spanish play by play announcer on KIQI 1010 and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Third person to die this year at Baltimore home game; 49ers the favorites in NFC Championship; plus more

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sfgate.com photo: Green Bay quarterback and former Cal Bears quarterback Aaron Rogers (12) will face the San Francisco 49ers this Sun Jan 19th at Levis Stadium for the NFC Championship

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 A third person died at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium this season and during Saturday’s playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens a male fan fell while climbing the stairs in the stadium’s upper deck. Medics tried to resuscitate the victim who later passed away.

#2 The Green Bay Packers caught a big break just getting by the Seattle Seahawks to advance to the NFC Championship with a 28-23 win give credit to Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers.

#3 The Packers and San Francisco 49ers match up in the NFC Championship as the 49ers are coming offf a convincing 27-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings

#4 The Texas Rangers signed third baseman Todd Frazier to a one year deal worth $5 million. Frazier hit .251, 21 home runs, 67 RBI in 133 games last season.

#5 Ed Sprauge Sr a former original Oakland Athletic from the 1968 team died at 74 years old. Sprauge pitched in the show for eight years and his son Ed Jr also played part of his 11 years in the majors for the A’s survives his father.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for A’s baseball on KIQI 1010 and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Houston We Have a Problem, Manager and General Manager Fired

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houstonchronicle.com file photo: Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch (right) have been suspended by Major League Baseball for the 2020 season and now have been fired by team owner Jim Crane.

Houston We Have a Problem: Manager and General Manager Fired

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Today the Houston Astros fired their Manager A.J Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow,after MLB released the results of their investigation about the team stealing signs. Astros owner Jim Crane dismissed both decision makers.

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane made the announcement and also added at news conference today at Minute Maid Park:”There are two very important points I want to make today: “I have higher standards for the city and the franchise, and I am going above and beyond MLB’s penalty.” Crane went onto add “Today, I have made the decision to dismiss AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow. We need to move forward with a clean slate, and the Astros will become a stronger organization because of this today.” Crane said he made his decision after the MLB report, because they both shared responsibilities in stealing signs.

The Astros were also fined $5 million dollars by MLB (maximum by MLB bylaws) as they will forfeit their first and second round picks in the 2020 and 2024 draft. Although the club have not announced who is going to be their manager this season and none has been named as of today, owner Jim Crane spoke about Joe Espada and said (quote) “he will be a capable manager”, Joe Espada was interviewed by the SF Giants managing position,before the Giants named Gabe Kapler.

The Astros won the American League West for the third consecutive year in 2019 and will be picked favorites to repeat again this 2020. This scandal is not only bad for the Houston Astros organization but for baseball in general. Not a shining moment in the history of the sport, after finally surviving the steroids years this is not exactly what the Commissioner had in mind. Absolute blemish on baseball.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com